Practice swing bat



June 16, 1964 Fig.1

V. C. ZORDAN ETAL PRACTICE SWING BAT Filed May 3, 1962 Fig-2 V INVENTOR5=- 40% T// k ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,137,504 PRACTICE SWING BAT Victor C. Zordan, St) Andrews St., and Angelo L.

Menegus, 27 Mount Pleasant Terrace, both of Torriugtou, Conn.

Filed May 3, 1962, Ser. No. 192,117 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-26) This invention relates to an improvement in articles of this type which have been used to improve the swing of a user and has for its objects the perfection of swing to provide for the greatest desired effect.

Another object of our invention is to provide a practice swing bat, or other striking implement, in which the accomplishment of a proper swing is accompanied by a noise and vibrant sensation to the swinger.

A further object is to provide an article of the character described which may be mass produced from plastic, wood or other suitable material according to the invention by means of which the above and other objects may effectively be attained as will hereinafter appear.

Broadly, the invention comprises an elongated body, a longitudinal bore therein extending through a substantial portion of the body, and means at one end of said bore for releasably holding a movable element at said end until the body is swung through an arc with sufficient force to dislodge the movable element and cause same to travel the bore to its opposite end with resulting sound and sensible vibration.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 represents, in side elevation, a ball bat including the bore and movable element (shown in two positions), said bore and element, with the means for releasably holding the latter, being shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 2 represents an enlarged section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 represents a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

FIG. 4 represents a transverse section, on the scale of FIGS. 2 and 3, taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in which the parts have been given the same numerals in the several figures the elongated body is denoted by 1, having a handle portion 2 and the usual annular knob 3. The enlarged portion of the body 1 is denoted by 4 and same is provided with a longitudinal bore 5 extending throughout a substantial portion thereof.

Located within the bore 5 is a movable element 6,

herein shown as a ball of substantial weight composed of steel or other suitable material. This ball 6 is normally releasably held by and against the means 7 fixed in one end of bore 5, as shown in FIG. 1. Said means 7 comprises a magnet having its ball engaging surface slightly concave, although the shape of said surface is not an important feature of the invention.

When the bat is properly swung through an are by grasping handle 2 and swinging same, a satisfactory swing of proper arc and power will cause the ball 6 to become dislodged from magnet 7 and travel the length of bore 5 into contact with the end of the bore. This latter position is illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the ball 5 is in the location denoted by B in said figure.

As previously indicated, the ball will arrive at location 13 causing a slight noise and vibration of the bat both of such magnitude as to be heard and sensed through the handle 2.

Experience has shown that the bat may vary in length from twenty four (24") inches to thirty six (36") inches, and the hollow bore may extend about one third the overall length of the bat, being located in the thicker end thereof.

The magnet is designed to releasably hold a ball substantially twice the weight of the ball actually used so that a proper swing is required to furnish the force necessary to dislodge the ball and cause same to travel the bore to contact with its other end.

Since it is evident that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. We do not intend to be limited to the specific embodiment herein shown and described except as set forth in the appended claim.

What we claim is:

An article of the character described comprising an elongated tapered body, a longitudinal interior bore therein, an element movable throughout the length of said bore and contained therein and means at one end of said bore and fixed therein for releasably holding said movable element thereagainst until same is dislodged therefrom by substantial arcuate movement of said elongated body, said means for releasably holding the movable element comprising a magnet fixed in one end of the bore, said magnet being of sufiicient strength to hold a movable element of greater weight than the single movable element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 514,420 Jacobus Feb. 6, 1894 2,135,648 Stumpt Nov. 8, 1938 

